He is also often pictured enjoying a game of ice hockey and Tuesday night was like many others, Mr Putin showing his ability to shoot a puck during a gala match.

Mr Putin often enjoys an ice hockey game - though he does keep his shirt onCredit:
Mikhail Klimentyev/AP

But this time, Mr Putin proved he is just as human as we are and prone to a fall on ice, which is what happened during an amateur Night Hockey League game in Sochi.

The former Russian prime minister played on the Night Hockey League Stars team against amateur hockey players in the Bolshoi Arena, TASS reported, built for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in the city.

Mr Putin's first Night Ice Hockey League game was in May 2012Credit:
Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Putin's team included veteran hockey players, many who are now board members of the league, against an amateur team who qualified during a Sochi festival in the Amateur 40+ division, TASS reported. Sergei Shoigu, Russian defence minister, was also on Mr Putin's team.

Mr Putin with the trophy after beating the team of amateur ice hockey playersCredit:
Mikhail Klimentyev/AP

Earlier in the day, Mr Putin said Russia's new weapons have proven their worth in Syria, helping turn the tide of the civil war which has killed hundreds of thousands and left millions forced to flee the country.

Speaking at a meeting with military officials, Mr Putin said that Russian warplanes have flown more than 10,000 combat missions since the air campaign began on September 30. He said they struck more than 30,000 targets, including 200 oil facilities, allowing the Syrian military to drive militants from 500 towns and villages.

Russia has for the first time tested in combat its new air and sea-launched cruise missiles to hit targets in Syria.